OKLAHOMA CITY (NewsNation) — A vacation to Turks and Caicos turned into a nightmare for one Oklahoma couple.
Ryan and Valerie Watson visited the islands for a birthday trip earlier this month. But just as they were about to head home, they were stopped by airport security. Confusion turned into terror as they were escorted to the police station.
A ‘bonehead mistake’
Airport authorities claimed to have found ammunition in Ryan Watson’s carry-on luggage. He called it a “bonehead mistake” and one that was accidental, but a new law has him facing up to a dozen years in prison.
Ryan Watson was granted bail Wednesday but is being forced to remain in Turks and Caicos away from his wife and children.
There are no answers to when he will be able to return home, and his next court date isn’t for another six weeks on June 7.
Valerie Watson, who just returned home to the U.S., told NewsNation that she can’t believe this is happening. She said it has been a hard transition, especially since their kids have questioned where their dad is and when he will be home. It has been a very difficult process for her to navigate as her kids process their emotions, she said.
“Being in our home without him is really weird. It’s been busy. I really haven’t even spent much time with the kids yet. This is our new reality, and it’s pretty terrible,” Valerie Watson said.
Valerie Watson was allowed to fly home Tuesday and was greeted by her family, friends and children. She said she’s terrified that her husband is facing 12 years in prison for something they say was an honest mistake. Plus, she explained that the ammunition wasn’t even caught by the Transportation Security Administration before their flight out of the U.S.
Ryan Watson is an avid hunter, and the bullets were left in the bag from a previous hunting trip to Texas earlier this year.
Turks and Caicos laws differ from US
In the U.S., bullets found by airport security typically result in a fine. But in Turks and Caicos, lawmakers passed a bill creating a 12-year minimum prison sentence for anyone caught bringing a firearm or ammunition to the islands.
On Wednesday, the U.S. government issued a warning to tourists headed to the islands.
“Carefully check your luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing from the United States. If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, even inadvertently, we will not be able to secure your release from custody,” the U.S. Embassy in Nassau warned.
A Watson family friend told NewsNation that both Valerie and Ryan Watson were happy about the accelerated pace at which the case is moving, noting there are other Americans who have been accused of similar crimes and are still awaiting justice.
A GoFundMe page has also been set up for the family to help with expenses, and so far, more than $130,000 has been raised.
Other Americans facing charges
Ryan Watson isn’t the only American facing gun charges in Turks and Caicos.
Bryan and Ashley Hagerich were on a vacation there with their children when stray hunting ammunition was also discovered in their luggage back in February. Bryan Hagerich was detained by authorities and spent eight days in prison before posting bail.
Now, more than 70 days after his arrest, Bryan Hagerich remains on the island. So far, he has missed several life events back home in the States, including his children’s birthdays.
“I don’t think any of us ever had any idea of the magnitude this would bring to our family. It has been nothing short of a struggle these past 70-plus days,” Bryan Hagerich said.
“It was just a very, very simple, honest mistake,” he said.
Ashley Hagerich told NewsNation that it’s been difficult at home while her husband has been stuck in Turks and Caicos. She’s even taken a step back from work to take care of their kids and balance their schedules.
“Never in a million years could we imagine that an honest mistake like this could lead to the absolute torture our family is going through now,” she said.